Clamping device



' Filed April 15, 1968 CLAMP'ING DEVICE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,512,228 CLAMPING DEVICE Bernard J.Carvell, 71 Bellevue Ave., Belvedere, Calif. Filed Apr. 15, 1968, Ser.No. 721,392 lint. Cl. A41j 51/08; A44p 21/00; B65d 85/67 U.S. Cl. 242433 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention primarily comprises aclamping device formed by two tubes each of approximately the samediameter and each with a longitudinal section removed such that whenassembled in substantially a coaxial manner they form a clamp which maybe opened and closed by twisting the outer tube about the inner. Thedevice has a variety of applications including a pants hanger when usedin combination with a conventional coat hanger and a paper dispenser.

My invention provides a simple closure and clamping device of wideapplication. Principally, it is an economic solution to the problem ofhanging pants by the cuffs without using expensive conventional woodenclamps. Because of the simplicity of my design, pants clamps using thecommon wire hanger can be manufactured at very low cost. Basically, myinvention comprises an inner and outer tube each with a longitudinal,end-to-end section removed. The tubes can be rotated in relation to oneanother such that both removed sections form a gap longitudinally alongthe concentric tubes. Anything inserted in this gap can be clamped inplace by twisting one tube in respect to the other, closing the gap.With slight modification in the basic design, my device has a variety ofapplications. If the inner tube is cut longer than the outer and theends capped, it may function as a dispenser for paper, foil or otherrolled sheeting. Depending on the material selected for the tubes, theclamp may function as a drape or curtain hanger, or a framing to houseand support glass, metal, wood, plastic, or other sheet material. Inelectronics the clamp could function as a connector or bus bar.

The device has utile features other than clamping. It can beadvantageously used as a connector or protective cover over an objectthat will not permit a tube to be slipped on from its end. Many otherobjects and applications of my invention will become apparent from afull consideration of the specification and accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp with a wire hanger;

FIG. 2 is a partial end section taken along the lin 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial end section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational section taken along the line 44 of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the basic clamp design;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention adapted for use as a paperdispenser;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the paper dispenser taken along the line7--7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the particular embodiment of my invention thererepresented is that of a pants hanger 10. Here the pants hanger 10employs a common wire coat hanger 112 as its means of suspension. A longinner tube 14 is notched 16 at each end as in the manner illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4. The notches are sufficiently deep to permit the innertube 14 to slip into the cradle or crossmember 18 of the coat hanger 12and extend beyond the coat hangers ends. There are two outer tubes 20and 22' ice in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Since a conventional hanger isabout 16 inches in length and a pants cuff is about 8 inches, two pairsof pants may be hung on each hanger. Alternatively, a single outer tubeon a conventional or modified wire hanger may be more ideal for certainsituations.

The inner tube '14 has a longitudinal slot section 24 removed whichforms a gap of slightly less than one-fourth the circumference of thetube running along its entire length from end to end. Each outer tube 20and 22 is of approximately the same diameter as the inner tube 14, andhas a slot 25 thereof removed. The slot 24 subtends an angle X ofbetween 0 and at the axis of the tubes, and the slot 25 subtends anangle of between 0 and 180 with the sum of the angles X and Y being lessthan about 180 so that the two tubes are rotatably supported by a commoninterface which subtends an angle exceeding 180 at their center in allrotatable positions of the tubes. The sections removed from each outertube 20 and 22 are slightly less than that of the inner tube 14. This isnot an operational requirement, but rather one of appearance. Since bothinner and outer tubes are flexible, the gap of the inner tube 14decreases and the gap of the outer tube, 20 or 22, increases when thetubes are coaxially assembled. If both gaps were initially of the samesize, a step appearance would result even in the open position. When thehanger is constructed with the outer gap less than that of the inner,the step is concealed as illustrated in FIG. 2, showing the pants hanger(10 in the open position. The open position is also represented in FIG.1 with the outer tube 20 having its gap aligned with the gap of theinner tube 14. The ends of a pair of pants can be inserted in such gapand be suspended when an outer tube 22 is twisted as shown in FIG. 3where the pants are gripped between opposite edges 26 and 27 of theslots in the tubes 14 and 22, respectively. This closed position is alsorepresented in the right portion of FIG. 1. It is interesting to notethat when both inner and outer tubes are initially of the same diameterthe clamping edges 26 and 27 meet head-on when the tubes are twisted tothe closed position illustrated in FIG. 3. This prevents full rotationof the outer tube about the inner allowing only a partial rotation.

The tubes remain in the closed clamping position by frictional forcescreated by the contiguous surfaces 28 of the coaxial tubes. Thefrictional forces are dependent upon the size and flexibility of thetubes which create the normal forces under deformation, and thecoefficient of friction between the contiguous surfaces 28. The pantshanger can be opened or closed merely by grasping the outer tube 20 or22 and twisting while holding the wire hanger 12. As the inner tube 14is longer than the hanger 12 and keyed thereto by the notches 16engaging the risers 18 at each end, it will not rotate in respect to thehanger.

FIG. 5 illustrates the basic clamp 30. In its simplest form it can bemade from a common stock of tubing. Both inner 32 and outer 34 portionsof the clamp have the same longitudinal section removed which is here astrip with an arc of about 60. The inner tube 32 is slightly longer thanthe outer 34 to facilitate the twisting by allowing the inner tube to beheld by its ends while the outer tube is grasped on its outer surfaceand twisted.

For uses that require that the tubes be securely locked in positionthere may be added a locking device such as a thumb screw 36 threadedthrough the outer tube 34 to impinge on the surface of the inner tube32. Other similar devices may be provided for this purpose if required.

Additional refinements may be incorporated with the basic clamp such asbar levers to open and close the gap or springs to maintain the clamp ina closed position. However, such refinements derogate from the principalfeatures of the invention; simplicity of design and economics ofmanufacture.

Uses in addition to clamping are evident. FIG. 6 illustrates the basicdesign modified in certain details to form a convenient dispenser 40 forrolled sheeting 42, for example, wax paper. Here the inner tube 44 iscapped at one end by a cap 48 and the outer tube 46 is capped. at theopposite ends by a cap 52 with the two caps providing a convenient placeto grasp the inner tube 44 when opening or closing the dispensing slot50.

The preferred assembly of the dispenser requires some particulars indetail. There are two sets of lead edges which will meet depending ondirection of twist. To function properly the useable lead edges in thedispenser 4i:= are dependent on the direction of the roll of the rolledsheeting 42. If the rolled sheeting 42 is inserted in the dispenser asillustrated in FIG. 7 with a clockwise unroll direction, the edge 54 ofthe outer tube 46 directed clockwise is the edge employed as the leadedge when the dispenser is in a closed position. When a portion of thesheeting is torn flush with the two lead edges 54 and 56, the end of therolled sheeting can be retrieved on twisting the dispenser 40 to theopen position. This results because the roll of sheeting follows theinner tube in which it is cradled and the lead edge 54 of the outer tube46 rotates back over the untorn sheeting 42 exposing a portion 42" ofthe end of the sheeting that can be retrieved when the dispenser 40 isopened.

The lead edge 54 of the outer tubing can be provided with a saw-toothcutting edge (not shown) to facilitate the tearing of the rolledsheeting.

Since one of the desirable features of the device is the head-on meetingof the lead edges 54 and 56, advantages may be obtained by carefulselection of the proper size and manner of attachment of the end caps 48and 52. As stated above, if both inner and outer tubes are selected froma flexible material with approximately the same diameters, each willdeform when coaxially joined. The outer tube 46 will spring open and theinner tube 46 wili close somewhat. This spring action is evident by thelead edges 54 and 56 meeting head on. To preserve this displacement oflead edges 54 and 56, the cap 52 on the outer tube must have an insidediameter slightly greater than the undeformed outside diameter of theouter tube 46 to accommodate the slight spring deformation when thetubes are joined. Furthermore, there should be a single point or area ofattachment of the outer tube 46 which preferably should be close to theedge 58 that is not used as the lead edge, The cap 48 on the inner tubeshould have an inside diameter equal to the undeformed outside diameterof the inner tube 44. As on the outer tube, the cap 48 should beattached at a single point or area, here, close to the lead edge 56.This will permit a uniform deformation along the entire length of theinner tube 44 allowing the lead edges 54 and 56 to meet head on.

It is apparent from the specification that the simple clamping devicemay be adapted for many purposes by making minor modifications to thebasic invention. Additional modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A hanger comprising a conventional wire coat hanger, an innerflexible tube with a longitudinal section removed and with notches ateach end, placed on the crossmember of the wire hanger, the notchesengaging the risers of the wire hanger such that the inner tube isprevented from rotating about said wire hanger, at least gne outer 4flexible tube of diameter approximately equal to that of the inner tubeand of length less than said cross-member with a longitudinal sectionremoved, said outer tube incompassing said inner tube in a substantiallycoaxial manner and free to partially rotate about said inner tube.

2. A device of the type described comprising a first tubular memberhaving a longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot having a widthmeasured around the circumference of said tubular member which isgreater than zero degrees and less than a second tubular member mountedinside of said first tubular member generally coaxial therewith andengaging the inner surface of said first tubular member for rotationwith respect to said first tubular member about the common axis of saidtubular members, said second tubular member having a longitudinallyextending slot therein, said slot in said second tubular member having awidth measured around the circumference of said second tubular memberwhich is greater than zero degrees and less than 180, degrees, thecombined widths of said slots being less than about 180, a coiled rollof flexible material disposed within said tubular members and removabletherefrom as a web through said slot, said web being adapted to begripped between opposed edges of said slots in said tubular members, anda pair of closure members mounted on opposite ends of said tubularmembers enclosing the space within said tubular members.

3. A device of type described comprising a first t-ubular member havinga longitudinally extending slot therein, said slot having a widthmeasured around the circumference of said tubular member which isgreater than zero degrees and less than 180, a second tubular membermounted inside of said first tubular member generally coaxial therewithand engaging the inner surface of said first tubular member for rotationwith respect to said first tubular member about the common axis of saidtubular members, said second tubular member having a longitudinallyextending slot therein, said slot in said second tubular member having awidth measured around the circumference of said second tubular memberwhich is greater than zero degrees and less than 180, the combinedwidths of the slots in said first tubular member and said second tubularmember being less than about 180, and an article positioned partiallyWithin the interior of said second tubular member and removable fromsaid tubular members through said slots, said article being adapted tobegripped between opposed edges of said slots in said tubular members,said tubular members being formed of resilient tubing material havingsubstantially the same diameter, said opposed edges of said slots insaid tubular members being located at substantially the same radialdistance from the common axis of said tubular members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,508 6/ 1918 Province.1,564,425 12/1925 Lynch. 1,615,827 2/ 1927 Bristow. 2,153,474 4/1939Naylor et a1. 3,114,412 12/1963 Lishman 24243.10 XR 3,116,864 1/1964Hawk et al 206-58 XR DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner Us. 01. xx.206-58; 223-96

